The Show to Watch
Formnext Asia Shenzhen returns August 26-28 at the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center, and it's shaping up to be a turning point for desktop 3D printing. More than 350 exhibitors across 20,000 square meters will cover everything from metal and polymer to ceramic additive manufacturing.
Desktop AM Goes Production-Grade
The organizers are calling 2026 the year desktop machines move from hobby tools to production infrastructure. Chinese manufacturers now ship roughly 95% of the world's entry-level printers, and many of those machines are running in print farms producing end-use parts at scale.
- Bambu Lab, Creality, Elegoo, Flashforge and Raise3D all confirmed
- Dedicated print-farm and consumer AM ecosystem conference
- AI-assisted design and thermal management in focus
What to Look For
Expect new hardware announcements and detailed previews of products already in the pipeline. The consumer segment now includes footwear design, with the first International 3D Printed Footwear Design Award taking place during the show. On the industrial side, HP Additive will demonstrate binder jetting for copper cooling components aimed at AI data centers.
Why It Matters for Makers
The trends on display next week will set the tone for the rest of the year. Multicolor, high-temperature materials and print farms are all accelerating. Having the right filaments and materials on hand is the foundation that lets you take advantage of whatever new hardware drops.